The New Tree Management Bylaw 3600-2025 was passed and takes effect March 1, 2026. Visit the Tree Management page in early March for updates.

Our urban forests play an important role in our community to keep the city beautiful, help to clean the air, absorb pollution and greenhouse gases, maintain cooler temperatures for the comfort of people and the survival of fish and wildlife, reduce erosion, help mitigate climate change and protect residents access to nature, which is proven to improve mental health and well-being.

In 2022, Council adopted the City's first Urban Forest Strategy. The strategy provides clear direction to update the existing Tree Protection Bylaw to align it with a number of the Strategy's Goals. In addition, the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan provides guidance to ensure that future bylaws, plans, and policies conform to current industry trends and best management practices.

The Strategy is built around five goals:

The city engaged Diamond Head Consulting to support the development of an updated Tree Protection Bylaw. A comprehensive review and engagement process was conducted in the Summer of 2023 including the community engagement data gathered through the Urban Forest Strategy consultation and best practice research from other municipalities. In the Fall of 2023, the City undertook engagement with Council committees and strategic technical advisory parties.

The new Tree Protection Bylaw will address administrative and best practice updates and include some major influence updates that fundamentally change how the Bylaw regulates the retention, removal, protection, and replacement/re-establishment of trees as guided by the Strategy and the Master Plan.